Sustainable initiatives can take many forms, depending on your industry, the nature of your business, and your workplace. However, everyone has a duty to go green, as sustainability is a social responsibility. We all have to do our part… and together, we can reap the benefits.
Can sustainable initiatives help boost your revenue?
A range of research has shown that yes indeed, sustainable initiatives can actually boost revenue. Several larger companies such as Adidas, Nestle, and Google have implemented programs that have had an enormous impact on the environment for the better, and have also reduced overheads.
For instance, Google matches 100% of its electricity consumption each year by purchasing renewable energy. What’s more, many of its offices and data centers are self-sufficient, running off renewables such as solar power. This allows Google to save money on electricity while lessening its carbon footprint.
Unfortunately, over the years, there has been an enduring attitude that a commitment to sustainability means sacrificing profits. This is simply a dated, short-sighted perception that has stalled eco-friendly initiatives in commercial businesses. Time and time again, sustainability initiatives in companies of all sizes have produced increased profits and growth.
In fact, between 2006 and 2010, the top 100 sustainable global companies reported much higher growth, return on assets, profitability, and revenue. What’s more, during the 2008 recession, companies that maintained sustainable programs recorded a better than average turnover when compared with organisations that did not.
This evidence shows that done the right way, sustainable initiatives can boost revenue, even through the most financially difficult times.
How can you integrate sustainability into your business?
Sometimes, companies need to take a proverbial leap of faith when it comes to changing the way things are done. Change can be difficult, but with the right advice and successful examples to follow, your business can do it seamlessly and reap a range of benefits.
Consulting a professional Sydney rubbish removal company is one way to ensure that your waste management program is working for you. Moreover, bringing in talent from other large companies opens up a range of possibilities; they’ll likely be able to shed light on sustainability programs that are a little different from what you’ve been doing in the past.
For larger programs, there are consultants available who can advise you on implementing these important changes. And when it comes to integrating design changes, a Sydney office fit-out company is your best option. They’ll have the expertise to apply to your project and ensure that your sustainable moves put you in the best position to boost productivity, employee satisfaction, and ultimately revenue.
Four examples of easy sustainability initiatives
Energy conservation
Not many businesses can implement power-saving initiatives like Google. But we can all start somewhere, and for your business, there are a few small steps you can take to reduce energy consumption in your place of work.
These are just a few ways to conserve power in your office:
• Install power-saving lights, utilising LED globes and motion sensors.
• Educating staff on the importance of switching off lights and computers.
• Smarter design, and use of natural light.
• Smart temperature control.
• If possible, installation of solar panels on your roof.
This kind of initiative will require a financial commitment initially, but in the long run, using less power will ultimately be saving your business a lot of money.
Efficient waste management
Every business, no matter the industry, will produce some sort of waste. In an office, that’s most likely recyclables, food waste, and e-waste. What you actually do with this waste is crucial, and the right processes can lead to an increase in revenue.
Take these steps to implement an efficient waste management system:
• Sell secondhand office furniture and e-waste, instead of scrapping it.
• Educate staff on the importance of eliminating waste.
• Scout around for the best deals on regular waste removal/rubbish receptacles.
Recycling still creates carbon emissions. Therefore, eliminating the creation of waste in the first place is the preferable outcome. That means ensuring that your employees are creating less food waste, using less paper, and being smarter with the use of other consumables.
Research has shown that staff are happier when their employer has made some sort of commitment to reducing and recycling waste. A cleaner working environment also goes a long way toward more satisfied staff and when this is the case, your workers will be more efficient. Productivity then increases and your bottom line will say, thank you very much!
Green commuting incentives
While this doesn’t pertain to your office per se, a green commuting initiative can have a great impact on your revenue. Do this by:
• Installing bike racks
• Encourage staff to catch the train or the bus
• Subsidise public transportation costs for staff
• Establish a rewards program for staff who do use green alternatives.
This can have a great financial impact on your business, particularly if you’re relocating to a new office space. If you encourage staff to use public transportation or cycle, you won’t need as much parking space in your new complex. That can translate into a saving on your commercial lease and therefore, more money in your pocket.
Flexible working
Remote working, flexi-time, and other dynamic approaches to working come with a wide range of benefits for businesses. Most commonly, these benefits can include a boost in efficiency and productivity, as staff choose the approach that works best for them.
But did you know that dynamic approaches to working can be considered a sustainable change, and therefore trigger financial benefits for your organisation? When businesses implement flexible working, staff will inevitably spend less time in the office, and therefore, companies can afford to downsize their office space and redesign their fit-out.
• Less floor space required
• Fewer materials are used in a smaller fit-out
• Less energy is used when smaller numbers of staff are in the office.
Research has also shown that businesses have a much smaller carbon footprint when staff spend more time working from home, through less travel and less energy used in the office.
It’s time to go green
There’s no better time to implement sustainability initiatives in your business than now. For more information on how to better manage your waste, get in touch with Sydney City Rubbish today.
